Lightweight rotor design by optimal spar cap offset

The Science of Making Torque from Wind

Croce, A.^1 ; Sartori, L.^1 ; Lunghini, M.S.^1 ; Clozza, L.^1 ; Bortolotti, P.^2 ; Bottasso, C.L.^1,2

Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy^1

Wind Energy Institute, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany^2

关键词: Automated design;    Bend-twist coupling;    Energy yields;    Lightweight design;    Pressure side;    Rotor design;    Structural configurations;    Suction side;   

Others  :  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/753/6/062003/pdf
DOI  :  10.1088/1742-6596/753/6/062003

来源: IOP

【 摘 要 】

Bend-twist coupling behavior is induced in a blade by displacing the suction side spar cap towards the leading edge, and the pressure side one in the opposite direction. Additional couplings are introduced by rotating the spar cap fibers. The structural configuration of the blade is optimized using an automated design environment. The resulting blade shows significant benefits in terms of mass and loads when compared to the baseline uncoupled one. Finally, the lightweight design concept is used to increase the rotor size, resulting in a larger energy yield for the same hub loads.